The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State has been ranked ahead of other Nigerian tertiary institutions in the Scopus 2024 most scholarly output for higher education institutes.
According to the data released by Scopus, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka amassed 7025 publications contributed by 5813 authors. This was confirmed in Elsevier’s abstract and citation database launched in 2004.
The University of Nigeria Nsukka secured the top spot in Nigeria for scholarly output from 2020 to 2023. Scopus findings indicate that as of Sunday, January 7, 2024, the university has amassed 7025 publications contributed by 5813 authors.
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This is followed by the University of Ibadan (UI) with 6978 publications involving 4732 authors.
The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) occupies the third position after garnering a total of 3714 publications from 2739 authors.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka, is fourth with 3552 publications from 2606 authors.
The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is in the fifth position with 3532 publications from 2731 authors, while Covenant University, Ota in Ogun State and the only private university listed among the best six secured the sixth position with 3432 publications contributed by 2303 authors.
However, the University of Ibadan garnered more citations despite the University of Nigeria having the highest research output.
Publications by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka authors during the specified period received 44,741 citations, whereas the University of Ibadan attracted 68,318 citations, and the University of Ilorin got 25,818 citations.
The University of Ilorin, however, tops the chart for highest growth, the institution came out as the university with the highest growth at 25.5 percent among the top three institutions.
The University of Nigeria demonstrated a substantial 21.9 percent increase in publication output from 2020 to 2022.
While the University of Ibadan experienced a more modest 4.3 percent growth during the same period.
Regarding the expansion in the number of authors, UNN reported an impressive 23.9 percent increase, followed by UNILORIN with 9.8 percent.
The University of Ibadan ranked third with a marginal 0.5 percent growth in this aspect. Scopus confirmed that the calculation of the institutional Scival ranking exclusively relies on publications in journals indexed within its database.
Moreover, Scopus emphasises the significance of its data in university rankings, asserting that it provides valuable insights into the genuine research performance of institutions.
